7:51am
CHINATOWN
PETER'S APARTMENT
Peter Caine sat on the couch in his living room. He looked at his note on the coffee table. It read, "Lynn Sear---(215)343-6722". He dialed the number.
**********
7:54am
S. PHILADELPHIA
COLE'S HOUSE
Cole was sitting at the kitchen table, dressed in his school uniform. He was eating his Coca-Puffs cereal.
His mother was washing the dishes, when the phone rang. "What? Who could be calling *this* early?" She walked to the living room and picked the cordless phone up.
Cole shrugged as he finished his breakfast. "I don't know who it could be, momma."
Lynn asked on the phone, "Hello? Who is it?"
A young, male voice said, "Hi. Is this Lynn Sear of Philadelphia?"
She replied nervously, "Yes. Who am I talking to?"
The man replied, "I'm a cop. Detective Caine."
"Peter?"
"Yes. I'm calling in regards to your son, Cole. He has the number to the 101st Precinct. When you call there, ask to be transferred to Captain Simms or Detective Griffin. They will give you proof that I'm Peter Caine. Did Cole tell you about me and my father?"
"Yes..he said your father is some kind of priest."
"Right. Shaolin. Is Cole ok?"
"I guess. He's been having disturbing dreams. He said he needs help."
"What kind of dreams?"
"He had a dream about this temple. And there was lots of fire. He told me of something that happened in class."
"Would you like to tell me? Maybe I can help."
"Well, he was drawing and he..well, he had the same dream, but it was when he was awake. When the image was finished, he had finished his drawing. He said the picture was the same as his dream."
"And what did he see?"
"He said a temple was destroyed, that the bad guys..they were all dressed in black and killed the monks. And that he saw someone who looked like Caine, but with no hair. And he called out to a boy named Peter."
"Whoa...oh, boy."
"What is it?"
"He saw US. That was our temple. Did Cole say anything about a father and son being separated for fifteen years?"
Lynn was surprised. "Yes! He did..how did you know that?"
"Because..bear with me, here..this can't be a simple nightmare. It happened. My father and I lived at a temple and it was destroyed by Tan."
"Tan..I've heard that name.."
"He was a crime-lord."
"Oh, I must've heard of him on the news."
"So, is there anything else that's happening?"
"Well..yes, maybe something worse..do you believe in--um, how can I say this.."
"Ghosts?"
"Huh?"
"It's ok, Ms. Sear. Cole told us about his ability. We believe it."
"Oh, good. Well, he's being visited by a ghost. A bad one. Cole can't help him because this thing doesn't want it. Cole said he was evil. That word, 'evil', he's never used that word to describe anyone. But I know he's afraid of this man."
"Did he say what he looked like?"
"The man wears a black karate suit, a gi. That's all I know. You know what the worst part is? I can't protect my boy from him, I don't know how. I need help. WE need help."
"Okay..I will help you. Me and my father. You have our promise on that. Is Cole up now?"
"Sure, he's almost ready for school."
"Could I speak with him, please? It'll only take a minute."
"Well..ok." She carried the phone into the kitchen and handed it to Cole, who was done eating. "Here, son. It's your friend, Peter."
At that, Cole brightened. He took the phone. "Peter? You there?"
Peter answered, "Yes, it's me. Pop said you called to him through meditation."
Cole said, "I did. He said some kind of protection is coming."
"And it is. I just mailed it last night, so you should be getting it sometime today."
"What is it?"
"A family heirloom. A medallion that was passed down through our family, starting from my great-grandfather's Master Po. It'll help you focus more. The power is already in you, all you need to do is use the object as a point of contact, as a link to your chi, your life-force. Of course, a part of our ancestors' chi energy is imprinted on it. You will know their wisdom for a short time."
"Thanks. But are you guys coming?"
"Yes. We should be there in a day or two."
"Oh, God. What do I do if the enemy ghost has more power..just in case. What if I'm too scared to focus, like you said?"
"Hmm..oh. You must go to your 'secret place'."
"Huh? Secret place?"
"Yes, a place of tranquility, where you are at peace with yourself. For me, it was a lake by our temple. Is there..was there a place where you were very happy at? Some kind of pleasant scenery to do with nature?"
"Well, when I was little, my dad took us on a trip to the Rocky Mountains. He took me almost to the top. I could really see the clouds..I felt like I was on top of the world."
"Great! That's very good. That's your secret place. As you meditate, when you reflect on your situation, go there, and you should be safe. No one is supposed to be there with you, unless they're invited."
"Thanks. I'll do that. Anything else?"
"Yes, we're going to try to reach you through meditation. So it's *very* important that you keep yourself calm today. No fear. Don't be angry or in conflict with anyone. BE at peace with yourself."
"Why?"
"This will leave you more aware..it'll make it easier for us to make the link."
"Oh. Okay...so you're coming soon?"
"Count on it. Well, I have to go. I have to meet Lo Si and my father. We'll try to make the link in twenty minutes."
"Okay, I'll try to be calm on the inside. So I have to go now, for school."
"Sure, no problem. Bye, Cole."
"Bye. See you soon." He pushed the "END" button and the phone clicked off. He got up and put his bowl in the sink.
Lynn came over to him. "So, what did he say?"
Cole answered, "A package is coming for me. If you get off work early, can you give it to me at school?"
"I don't know. I'll have to check my schedules. I'll try, if I can. Anything else, son?"
"Yes. I have to find my secret place. And I must be..like Caine says....um, 'at one with myself'."
"What?"
"Never mind. I have to go right now. Something important."
As he walked away, she called out, "Wait! What if Tommy Tammosimo
comes by to walk with you?"
Cole stopped. "Oh. Tell him I left already, that I'm finding my road..er, I mean 'path'. Bye, momma."
She had a mystified look on her face. "Uhh..I don't know if that's a good idea."
"Why?"
"He might just try to pick on you again if I told him that."
"Ok. Then, just tell him I left."
"Alright, I'll do that. See you when you get home, Cole."
"Bye." He quickly ran out the door.
Five minutes later, there was a knock at Lynn's front door. She walked through the hallway and opened it.
It was Tommy. He saw the strange look on her face. "Ohh...ok. Let me guess, he left already. Right?"
Lynn nodded. "Right. You might be able to catch up with him. He said to tell you he left, but I guess you already know that."
"Oh, well. I'll see him later." He walked away.
As Tommy walked to school, he laughed and said to himself, "Man, Cole is such a dork! I wish Mr. Cunningham could switch me with someone else, maybe to walk with someone not as pathetic as Freak."
**********
8:05am
PETER'S APARTMENT
Peter checked his gun to see if it was loaded. He put the 'safety' on and put the weapon in his holster.
Then, Jordan came into the room, dressed in a blue-silk night gown. "Hey, Pete. Who were you talking to?"
Peter smiled. "Oh, just a mother of a friend of mine. I'm meeting them in Philadelphia. Tell Captain Simms about my vacation I was due last fall..I'm taking it now, just to get it out of the way."
She smirked. "Sure. You might like it in Philly."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I remember living there when I was a kid. My parents still live there, remember? So why are you going?"
"To help our friend, Cole. He attends St. Anthony's Academy."
"I went there once. Well, you hurry back soon. I'll be waiting."
He laughed, "Well, I should certainly *hope* so." He kissed her on the cheek. "Bye." He turned around and walked towards the door. On his way out, he checked his mailbox. Lately, mail got here early. So he took the envelopes out and looked them over. Mostly bills, junk mail, rent notices. But then, one caught his eye.
A small envelope addressed to him.
He looked at the 'return' address and chuckled.
Cole Sear
2101 Oakhurst Street
Philadelphia, PA 01219
Peter checked his watch. "Oh, no. I'm running late. I'll just read this when I meet with my father." He put it into his jacket-pocket. He got into his blue Stealth, turned the key and pulled out of his driveway.
CHINATOWN
PETER'S APARTMENT
Peter Caine sat on the couch in his living room. He looked at his note on the coffee table. It read, "Lynn Sear---(215)343-6722". He dialed the number.
**********
7:54am
S. PHILADELPHIA
COLE'S HOUSE
Cole was sitting at the kitchen table, dressed in his school uniform. He was eating his Coca-Puffs cereal.
His mother was washing the dishes, when the phone rang. "What? Who could be calling *this* early?" She walked to the living room and picked the cordless phone up.
Cole shrugged as he finished his breakfast. "I don't know who it could be, momma."
Lynn asked on the phone, "Hello? Who is it?"
A young, male voice said, "Hi. Is this Lynn Sear of Philadelphia?"
She replied nervously, "Yes. Who am I talking to?"
The man replied, "I'm a cop. Detective Caine."
"Peter?"
"Yes. I'm calling in regards to your son, Cole. He has the number to the 101st Precinct. When you call there, ask to be transferred to Captain Simms or Detective Griffin. They will give you proof that I'm Peter Caine. Did Cole tell you about me and my father?"
"Yes..he said your father is some kind of priest."
"Right. Shaolin. Is Cole ok?"
"I guess. He's been having disturbing dreams. He said he needs help."
"What kind of dreams?"
"He had a dream about this temple. And there was lots of fire. He told me of something that happened in class."
"Would you like to tell me? Maybe I can help."
"Well, he was drawing and he..well, he had the same dream, but it was when he was awake. When the image was finished, he had finished his drawing. He said the picture was the same as his dream."
"And what did he see?"
"He said a temple was destroyed, that the bad guys..they were all dressed in black and killed the monks. And that he saw someone who looked like Caine, but with no hair. And he called out to a boy named Peter."
"Whoa...oh, boy."
"What is it?"
"He saw US. That was our temple. Did Cole say anything about a father and son being separated for fifteen years?"
Lynn was surprised. "Yes! He did..how did you know that?"
"Because..bear with me, here..this can't be a simple nightmare. It happened. My father and I lived at a temple and it was destroyed by Tan."
"Tan..I've heard that name.."
"He was a crime-lord."
"Oh, I must've heard of him on the news."
"So, is there anything else that's happening?"
"Well..yes, maybe something worse..do you believe in--um, how can I say this.."
"Ghosts?"
"Huh?"
"It's ok, Ms. Sear. Cole told us about his ability. We believe it."
"Oh, good. Well, he's being visited by a ghost. A bad one. Cole can't help him because this thing doesn't want it. Cole said he was evil. That word, 'evil', he's never used that word to describe anyone. But I know he's afraid of this man."
"Did he say what he looked like?"
"The man wears a black karate suit, a gi. That's all I know. You know what the worst part is? I can't protect my boy from him, I don't know how. I need help. WE need help."
"Okay..I will help you. Me and my father. You have our promise on that. Is Cole up now?"
"Sure, he's almost ready for school."
"Could I speak with him, please? It'll only take a minute."
"Well..ok." She carried the phone into the kitchen and handed it to Cole, who was done eating. "Here, son. It's your friend, Peter."
At that, Cole brightened. He took the phone. "Peter? You there?"
Peter answered, "Yes, it's me. Pop said you called to him through meditation."
Cole said, "I did. He said some kind of protection is coming."
"And it is. I just mailed it last night, so you should be getting it sometime today."
"What is it?"
"A family heirloom. A medallion that was passed down through our family, starting from my great-grandfather's Master Po. It'll help you focus more. The power is already in you, all you need to do is use the object as a point of contact, as a link to your chi, your life-force. Of course, a part of our ancestors' chi energy is imprinted on it. You will know their wisdom for a short time."
"Thanks. But are you guys coming?"
"Yes. We should be there in a day or two."
"Oh, God. What do I do if the enemy ghost has more power..just in case. What if I'm too scared to focus, like you said?"
"Hmm..oh. You must go to your 'secret place'."
"Huh? Secret place?"
"Yes, a place of tranquility, where you are at peace with yourself. For me, it was a lake by our temple. Is there..was there a place where you were very happy at? Some kind of pleasant scenery to do with nature?"
"Well, when I was little, my dad took us on a trip to the Rocky Mountains. He took me almost to the top. I could really see the clouds..I felt like I was on top of the world."
"Great! That's very good. That's your secret place. As you meditate, when you reflect on your situation, go there, and you should be safe. No one is supposed to be there with you, unless they're invited."
"Thanks. I'll do that. Anything else?"
"Yes, we're going to try to reach you through meditation. So it's *very* important that you keep yourself calm today. No fear. Don't be angry or in conflict with anyone. BE at peace with yourself."
"Why?"
"This will leave you more aware..it'll make it easier for us to make the link."
"Oh. Okay...so you're coming soon?"
"Count on it. Well, I have to go. I have to meet Lo Si and my father. We'll try to make the link in twenty minutes."
"Okay, I'll try to be calm on the inside. So I have to go now, for school."
"Sure, no problem. Bye, Cole."
"Bye. See you soon." He pushed the "END" button and the phone clicked off. He got up and put his bowl in the sink.
Lynn came over to him. "So, what did he say?"
Cole answered, "A package is coming for me. If you get off work early, can you give it to me at school?"
"I don't know. I'll have to check my schedules. I'll try, if I can. Anything else, son?"
"Yes. I have to find my secret place. And I must be..like Caine says....um, 'at one with myself'."
"What?"
"Never mind. I have to go right now. Something important."
As he walked away, she called out, "Wait! What if Tommy Tammosimo
comes by to walk with you?"
Cole stopped. "Oh. Tell him I left already, that I'm finding my road..er, I mean 'path'. Bye, momma."
She had a mystified look on her face. "Uhh..I don't know if that's a good idea."
"Why?"
"He might just try to pick on you again if I told him that."
"Ok. Then, just tell him I left."
"Alright, I'll do that. See you when you get home, Cole."
"Bye." He quickly ran out the door.
Five minutes later, there was a knock at Lynn's front door. She walked through the hallway and opened it.
It was Tommy. He saw the strange look on her face. "Ohh...ok. Let me guess, he left already. Right?"
Lynn nodded. "Right. You might be able to catch up with him. He said to tell you he left, but I guess you already know that."
"Oh, well. I'll see him later." He walked away.
As Tommy walked to school, he laughed and said to himself, "Man, Cole is such a dork! I wish Mr. Cunningham could switch me with someone else, maybe to walk with someone not as pathetic as Freak."
**********
8:05am
PETER'S APARTMENT
Peter checked his gun to see if it was loaded. He put the 'safety' on and put the weapon in his holster.
Then, Jordan came into the room, dressed in a blue-silk night gown. "Hey, Pete. Who were you talking to?"
Peter smiled. "Oh, just a mother of a friend of mine. I'm meeting them in Philadelphia. Tell Captain Simms about my vacation I was due last fall..I'm taking it now, just to get it out of the way."
She smirked. "Sure. You might like it in Philly."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I remember living there when I was a kid. My parents still live there, remember? So why are you going?"
"To help our friend, Cole. He attends St. Anthony's Academy."
"I went there once. Well, you hurry back soon. I'll be waiting."
He laughed, "Well, I should certainly *hope* so." He kissed her on the cheek. "Bye." He turned around and walked towards the door. On his way out, he checked his mailbox. Lately, mail got here early. So he took the envelopes out and looked them over. Mostly bills, junk mail, rent notices. But then, one caught his eye.
A small envelope addressed to him.
He looked at the 'return' address and chuckled.
Cole Sear
2101 Oakhurst Street
Philadelphia, PA 01219
Peter checked his watch. "Oh, no. I'm running late. I'll just read this when I meet with my father." He put it into his jacket-pocket. He got into his blue Stealth, turned the key and pulled out of his driveway.